What does everyone bring on the auto train?

[busymama04]

My Dh and I have just decided to take the auto train to Fl instead of driving. We have purchased coach seats for the six of us dh, me, ds11, dd9. ds5 and ds3. What does everyone pack? I was thinking snuggies and travel pillows, extra snacks, ipods, portable dvd player, tablets, laptop, small toys, camera, and of course chargers and batteries. Am I forgetting anything?

 

[disney_girl125]

I've taken the auto train several times. I would bring bottled water. Also just to give you a heads up, there's no wifi. And I wouldn't leave the electronic stuff in your seats when you go eat. So, don't overpack..lol. Maybe bring some puzzle books (crosswords,word searchs,etc. Have fun!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Just remember, all electronics require earphones.....I for one don'r enjoy listening to other peoples movies, games etc.....

 

[Capt_BJ]

I dunno about the coach cars but in the roomettes where I've always traveled folks bring small coolers with snacks, drinks and even adult beverages . . . no reason to pay the club car prices on AMTRAK. No TSA regulations on rail travel.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We're frequent travelers on Amtrak but the regular train, not the AT but are quite similar....

We travel coach mostly (sleepers are ridiciously priced) and we take a cooler....we freeze lemonade, and use it for the coolers ice, have sandwiches and snacks....pickles, tomatoes etc. and bulid our sandwiches right in the coach seats, have our drinks and enjoy.....yes, Club Car food is expensive and very limited in choice....dinner car is way over priced but meals are decent quaility wise.....

We take blankets, horseshoe pillows.....Ipods, gameboys, Kindles, puzzle books and personally myself a handheld GPS, to see exactly where we are...and our cameras..just remember to use earphones...we never leave anything of value in our checked bags and also don't leave anything in our seats either of value....we never go to the Club Car or Dining Car together, so one stays behind to watch our stuff.....I also like to take some earplugs and eye masks along for just in case....don't take up much room and can mean the difference in a trip....

We pack one rolling duffle each, which usually goes in baggage (limit 50#'s) and we have one carryone each plus cooler and munchie bag.....where we board, 3 am is an unmanned station so no baggage car access....but there is ample storage in the coach cars for luggage....

We take to our seats whatever is going to occupy our time with, most goes in the overhead and what we're using the most is at our feet.....we have the lemonade to drink as it thaws, plus some frozen bottled water too......bulk of our travelings is in the luggage car......we try to keep it simple.....

 

[chartle]

Just so you know the AT has real 110 volt outlets at every seat.

I second the pillows and maybe a blanket. They have them but the pillows are small and the blankets thin. Also there is only enough for everyone in the car. I saw a lot of passengers getting on the train early and hording them and they have extras.

 

[busymama04]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I'm just about excited to ride the train as I am to go to Disney!!

 

[chartle]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I'm just about excited to ride the train as I am to go to Disney!!

While it is neat you do need stuff to do. I thought I would just watch the world go by, but for the first hour or so you see nothing but railroad right of way.

You do then go through some interesting towns and marine corps base but then it gets dark.

 

[PA Princess]

We traveled by autotrain a few years ago when our four were similar in age to yours, and we will use it again this summer.

I would pack light on food, because we found the food offerings (snacks, dinner, breakfast) to be sufficient and remember that is all included on the autotrain, so no extra cost.

If anyone in your party is sensitive to sounds, you may want to have earphones for noise - from other passengers in the car, to those traveling through, to the train whistle that follows you all the way to FL.

 

[buzz5985]

We are taking the autotrain home this year. I can't wait - but what I am wondering is - we will be travelling with several laptops. My concern about leaving them in the car would be the summer heat. I am thinking it would be best if we brought them into the passenger cars?? We do have sleepers and I know they don't lock from the outside. Opinions?? What do you do with your laptop??

Janis

 

[shafke]

We are taking the autotrain home this year. I can't wait - but what I am wondering is - we will be travelling with several laptops. My concern about leaving them in the car would be the summer heat. I am thinking it would be best if we brought them into the passenger cars?? We do have sleepers and I know they don't lock from the outside. Opinions?? What do you do with your laptop??

Janis

We brought our laptops on the train. Did not have any worries leaving them in the sleepers.
As for leaving them in the car and worrying about the summer heat this is not a problem. When you drop off your car it is immediately loaded onto the car carrier. The car is never sitting in the direct sun and except for the few hours after you drop off the car the heat of the day has passed.

 

[Jennifer S]

subscribing-

we are taking the auto train this August. I was planning on snacks, pillow, light blanket, ipods, kindle and some toiletries (toothbrush etc)

 

[busymama04]

I asked a few questions on the auto train thread with no response so I will try here. Is the train usually full in August? Is it true that they put all family with children together? I have a 3yr old is it a hassle to get down stairs to the bathroom?